Country Controller

Imagine this. You are the senior finance owner for one jurisdiction, connecting site-level operations to group reporting and ensuring reliable financial information, compliant reporting and sound operational decisions.

The Country Controller is the senior finance owner for one jurisdiction. The role is accountable for the integrity of local accounting, timely and compliant close and statutory reporting, the quality of manufacturing cost and inventory accounting, and the reliability of local forecasts. It combines technical accounting authority with hands-on operational finance partnering.

The Country Controller connects site-level activity to group reporting and applies group policies, processes and controls consistently within local legal and regulatory requirements.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

What You’ll Do

Close, Reporting and Statutory Compliance

- Own the monthly, quarterly and annual close for the country’s legal entities, in line with the group close calendar.

- Ensure accurate and timely reporting to group under IFRS, and prepare statutory financial statements under local GAAP.

- Manage intercompany transactions, reconciliations and currency effects for the local entities.

- Coordinate with Tax, Treasury and external advisors on local statutory, VAT, tax and regulatory filings.

- Act as the escalation point for local close issues.

Cost Accounting and Inventory

- Own operations cost accounting for the country - inventory accounting, cost of goods produced and sold, and capitalization of labor and manufacturing overhead.

- Maintain the product costing framework (BOMs, routings, labor and overhead rates) so it reflects operational reality and group standards.

- Run the variance process (purchase price, usage, mix, yield, labor efficiency, overhead absorption). Identify root causes and route material variances to accountable owners with tracked actions.

- Control inventory economics - variance capitalization, release to COGS, and E&O and slow-moving stock exposure.

- Apply IAS 2 capitalization judgments for inventory, WIP and program costs consistently with group policy.

Balance Sheet Governance

- Run a systematic reconciliation and substantiation program with clear account ownership, cadence and aging thresholds.

- Ensure local use of the group chart of accounts is consistent and escalate structural change requests.

- Provide balance sheet inputs (working capital, provisions, capex accounting) to forecasting.

AP / AR Process and Controls

- Oversee local AP and AR processes, including segregation of duties, sub-ledger-to-GL reconciliation and payment terms governance.

- Support DSO and DPO discipline, credit control and dispute resolution.

- Identify and remediate control gaps in transactional accounting.

Planning, Forecasting and Performance Management

- Lead local forecasting and budgeting inputs with explicit assumptions on volume, pricing, efficiency and capacity.

- Provide a clear bridge from operational results to financial outcomes in monthly analysis.

- Own operational KPIs with financial linkage (e.g. yield, efficiency, days on hand, forecast accuracy) and deliver management reporting to local leadership.

- Ensure cost accounting actuals and forward-looking projections use consistent methodology.

Business Partnering

- Act as finance partner to the local Managing Director, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering and Program Management.

- Translate financial and operational data into actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders, supporting pricing, sourcing and capacity decisions.

Audit, Assurance and Institutional Counterparties

- Act as the local counterpart to external auditors. Own the PBC process, audit timeline and resolution of findings.

- Support lender, investor and institutional diligence on local accounting matters with audit-ready schedules and technical narratives.

Internal Controls, Processes and Systems

- Implement and maintain group internal control policies and SOPs locally, with audit-ready documentation.

- Standardize local close, costing and reporting processes, replacing ad hoc or site-specific practices.

- Partner with IT and Operations on ERP (Microsoft Dynamics) and MES data integrity and on continuous improvement, including close cycle time and manual workarounds.

- Provide inputs for local compliance requirements, including statutory, tax, export control and customs valuation data, and sustainability reporting data where applicable.

Team Leadership

- Lead, develop and mentor local finance staff, with clear expectations and development paths.

- Build local bench strength and a culture of ownership, technical rigor and peer accountability.

Requirements

What You’ll Need

- 10+ years of progressive accounting or controlling experience, including multi-entity, multi-currency IFRS / local GAAP reporting.

- Hands-on experience in cost accounting and inventory in a manufacturing environment - standard and actual costing, variance analysis and absorption.

- Strong IFRS knowledge, including IAS 2.

- Experience with statutory reporting and external audit in the relevant jurisdiction.

- ERP experience (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle or equivalent). Exposure to implementation or system redesign is a plus.

- Experience leading or mentoring finance teams.

- Ability to work cross-functionally and to explain financial results to non-finance stakeholders.

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or Engineering. A professional qualification (CPA, ACCA, CIMA, CMA or equivalent) is a plus.

- Fluency in English and in the local language.

Who You Are

Technical authority - the local reference point on IFRS and local GAAP judgments. Control mindset - treats balance sheet integrity and audit readiness as non-negotiable. Operations fluency - turns actuals into credible forward-looking cost views. Cross-functional influence - works effectively without formal authority over all stakeholders. Build orientation - comfortable designing and standardizing processes, not only operating them. Clear communication - adapts technical content for local leadership, auditors and lenders.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the role and is not exhaustive. Responsibilities and requirements may be adjusted based on organizational needs.